Guitar Chords: The Complete Guide
Chords are the language of rhythm guitar. From three-note triads strummed on an acoustic to lush seventh chord voicings on a jazz archtop, understanding how chords are built gives you the power to play any song, write your own progressions, and communicate musically with other players.
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Explore any chord in any key. See the notes, voicing diagram, and all positions on the fretboard.
How Chords Are Built
All chords start from a root note and add notes at specific intervals above it. The most fundamental chords are triads: three notes built from a root, a 3rd, and a 5th. The quality of the 3rd (major or minor) determines whether the chord sounds bright or dark.
| Chord Type | Formula | Semitones | Example (C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major | 1 — 3 — 5 | 0, 4, 7 | C — E — G |
| Minor | 1 — b3 — 5 | 0, 3, 7 | C — Eb — G |
| Dominant 7th | 1 — 3 — 5 — b7 | 0, 4, 7, 10 | C — E — G — Bb |
| Major 7th | 1 — 3 — 5 — 7 | 0, 4, 7, 11 | C — E — G — B |
| Minor 7th | 1 — b3 — 5 — b7 | 0, 3, 7, 10 | C — Eb — G — Bb |
| Sus2 | 1 — 2 — 5 | 0, 2, 7 | C — D — G |
| Sus4 | 1 — 4 — 5 | 0, 5, 7 | C — F — G |
Triads: The Foundation
Major Chords
Major chords have a bright, stable, happy quality. Built from Root + Major 3rd + Perfect 5th. The most common chords in pop and rock. G, C, D, A and E are all major open chords.
Minor Chords
Minor chords have a darker, more serious or melancholic quality. The 3rd is lowered by one semitone (minor 3rd instead of major 3rd). Em and Am are typically the first minor chords beginners learn.
Seventh Chords: Adding Colour
Adding the 7th degree to a triad creates a seventh chord. These have a richer, more complex sound and are essential in jazz, soul, and R&B.
Dominant 7th
The dominant 7th (e.g. G7) is a major triad with a minor 7th added. It creates strong harmonic tension that wants to resolve to the tonic chord a 4th above. It is the defining chord of the blues.
Major 7th
The major 7th (e.g. Cmaj7) is a major triad with a major 7th added. It sounds lush, sophisticated, and dreamy. Widely used in jazz bossa nova and R&B.
Minor 7th
The minor 7th (e.g. Am7) is a minor triad with a minor 7th. It has a smooth, mellow quality (think the opening chords of "Autumn Leaves" or countless neo-soul songs).
Suspended Chords
Suspended chords replace the 3rd with either the 2nd (sus2) or 4th (sus4). Without a 3rd, they sound neither major nor minor (open, ambiguous, and harmonically tense). They typically resolve to the major or minor chord. Think The Who's "Pinball Wizard" (sus4) or Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'" (sus2 feel).
Chord Progressions
A chord progression is a sequence of chords. The most important progressions in popular music are built from the diatonic chords of the major scale.
| Progression | Roman Numerals | Key of G example | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| I — V — vi — IV | 1–5–6m–4 | G D Em C | Pop (most common) |
| I — IV — V | 1–4–5 | G C D | Rock, country |
| i — VI — III — VII | 1m–6–3–7 | Am F C G | Pop, indie |
| I7 — IV7 — V7 | 12-bar blues | A7 D7 E7 | Blues |
| ii — V — I | 2m–5–1 | Am7 D7 G | Jazz |